BOSTON — Harvard’s football team showcased a strong performance on Saturday, defeating Columbia with a score of 26-6. This victory marked the Crimson’s sixth consecutive win, and extended their home winning streak to 11 games.

With this win, Harvard, boasting a record of 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Ivy League, has climbed into a tie for first place with Dartmouth, a team they bested in the previous week’s match-up.

Quarterback Jaden Craig was pivotal in the game, throwing two touchdown passes. His first touchdown came late in the first quarter, connecting with Cooper Barkate for a 34-yard completion that set the score at 10-0. This scoring drive was sparked by one of two interceptions made by Austin-Jake Guillory, who intercepted Columbia’s attempt in the end zone.

Craig’s second touchdown throw was an 11-yard pass to fellow quarterback Charles DePrima in the fourth quarter. This significant play occurred after Harvard took possession on downs at their own 31-yard line, managing to consume over six minutes of the clock before scoring. DePrima also contributed to the game with a late touchdown, executing a 52-yard run. He ended the day with 75 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards, while Kieran Corr added two field goals to the scoreline.

In terms of passing, Craig finished the game with 15 completions out of 34 attempts, amassing 244 yards through the air. Barkate enjoyed a standout performance with four receptions totaling 91 yards. Xaviah Bascon complemented the offensive effort with 109 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

On the Columbia side, quarterback Cole Freeman completed 11 of 25 passes with two interceptions. Despite the team’s struggles, he managed to score a 2-yard touchdown run in the final two minutes, preventing a shutout for the Lions, who now stand at a record of 5-3 and 3-2 in the conference.